Carlos and Danny

Go here and check out Carlos' words and an amazingly awesome video. Too cool. Immediately brought Hebews 13:2 to my mind. "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." I love it!

Chillin'

Tried to study tonight but last night was a late night in the basement with the bros and today was a long, busy, tiring day at work. As a result my mind was mush and I wasn't left with much focus. Decided to chill and find some mellow tunes that touched me. I'm feeling this right now.



Tonight the stars speak of your infinite love
And it serves to remind me
That what I have means nothing at all
Compared to your glory, Oh lord

How long till your voice speaks clearly?
How long till your arms envelope me?
I cry be my strength when I am weak
Oh Lord have mercy on me please

My spirit is willing but my flesh is so weak
I cry in your arms now
God grant me the strength to rest in you
I lift my hands and cry

Lord Willin'

I wanna be a part of something like this again.

That's My Boy

Yep, he is always the jokester. Couldn't find a picture where he's not making faces so today the jokes on him. Double deuces today for my only son. Happy Birthday Justin aka Bob!

Proud to be your Pops and I love you. I will always cherish those father-son moments when we were both little boys. Baseball, fishin', killin deer, and ridin 4-wheelers. Skippin stones, changin oil, carvin punkins, and building snowmen. Those many miles driving on vacation when I swore I was gonna kill you and your sister both. I miss lookin down at that little boy. I miss holding his hand when we crossed the street. I miss jumpin in the piles of leaves and pushin you in the wheelbarrow. I miss those never ending questions of why? and how come Daddy? I miss that little boy reaching up to me wanting to be held or wanting to set on my lap. I miss those bear hugs and the kisses goodnight. I miss that skinny little kid in his tighty whities running down the steps and flipping over the couch. Sometimes I think I wished those years away.

Now you are growing and maturing into a man and it is so tough to watch and allow you to go down your own road. It is hard to shut up and let you learn from your own mistakes, especially when they all seem to be the ones I have already made or continue to make. But man does my chest swell up when you make the right choice or the wise decision. I see you growing and maturing and being responsible in so many ways. I struggle with the tension of being there to help or support, as opposed to interfering or getting in the way. I guess that's part of being a Dad. I've learned as I went in the whole Dad thing and I continue to learn to this day. I know I have failed you in many ways as a father and for that I apologize once more, but know this...you have never failed me as my son. I love you more than you will ever know and I am proud to say, "Yep! That's my boy!".

Committed to Marriage

Marriage is tough stuff. It takes hard work and sacrifice. I know of many marriages that are struggling and even falling apart right now. Some are much more public than others. I was in a marriage that was once crumbling and falling apart but God restored it. Going through that makes it even more difficult to see people wanting to quit or give up on their spouse and marriage. I KNOW God is in the business of bringing to life things that are dead. It takes work but God is faithful.

God uses marriage as an analogy of his relationship with Israel all throughout scripture. If you think you have been hurt or betrayed by your loved one, search the scriptures for how deeply and repeatedly our Heavenly Father has been betrayed by his bride. Actually take a look in the mirror and think of how we all have deeply wounded and betrayed our Creator. Not everyone has committed adultery against their spouses but I believe we all have committed adultery in our hearts when it comes to our relationship with God.

Jeremiah 2:2 "I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the desert, through a land not sown."

The covenant people of God are his wife. They have often been unfaithful and broken the marriage covenant but would God divorce his bride or quit on his marriage? NO!

But what about her horrible adulteries that were committed against him? Ezekiel 16:32 "You adulterous wife! You prefer strangers to your own husband!" Surely divorce is legit in these circumstances! Nope...not in God's eyes.

Then what? Separation? Yep! Judgment? Yep! Ezekiel 16:58-59 "You will bear the consequences of your lewdness and your detestable practices, declares the Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will deal with you as you deserve, because you have despised my oath by breaking the covenant."

Then what? Is that the end? Does God just separate and pass judgment then end the marriage? Nope! Ezekiel 16:60 "Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you."

But isn't it wrong to take her back after she has laid with so many others? Jeremiah 3:1b in the ESV says it best. (at least to fit in with the song I am putting at the end)..." 'You have played the whore with many lovers; and would you return to me?' declares the Lord."

Ahhh...but what a husband he is! Amazing in his grace! So full of mercy! Jeremiah 3:12 - Go, proclaim this message toward the north: "Return, faithless Israel," declares the Lord, I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful,' declares the Lord, 'I will not be angry forever." That sounds like forgiveness and reconciliation!

God will not divorce. Malachi 2:16 "I hate divorce," says the Lord God of Israel, "and I hate a man's covering himself with violence as well as with his garment," says the Lord Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.

God is wholly committed to saving and enriching his marriage. Are you?